Traveling case



July 3, 1934. Y A KAUFMANN 1,964,820

TRAVELING CASE Filed Oct. 14A, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l y INVENTOR I r Ary @gif/'wazig 0 nuO Rv 7M di@ INVENTOR July 3, 1934. A, KAUFMANN TRAVELING CASE Filed Oct. 14, 1933 2 SheetsSheet 2 maf x Patented July 3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE TRAVELING CASE Ary Kaufmann, South Orange, N. J., assignor to K. Kaufmann & Co., Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 14, 1933, Serial No. 693,638

17 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in traveling cases of the suit-case or wardrobe type; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction and arrangement of parts contained within the case, whereby outer garments, such as mens suits or womens gowns, but especially the former, may be packed thereinto and so supported and segregated and protected from contact with other content with which the case may be packed, that the garments are both prevented from shifting about as well as protected against disfiguring pressures, thus avoiding risk of wrinkling and like mussing eiects.

This invention has for its principal object to provide a case comprising a body section and cover section hinged thereto; the cover section having means to suspend the garments therefrom, together with a novel detachable and adjustable keeper means for holding and protecting the garments as thus suspended.

This invention has for a further object to provide a case having means to suspend garments from the cover section thereof, together with garment keeper means detachably cooperative with the cover section, and a spaced tray within said body section, so spaced relative to the back and bottom of the body section as to provide space for the disposition of end portions of the garments suspended from and supported in connection with ithe case cover; means being provided for xing said tray in desired adjusted position within the case body.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is a perspective view of a traveling case made according to this invention, the cover section thereof being shown in open position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with the cover section open; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section, taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar vertical transverse section, with the cover section closed; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively fragmentary transverse'vertical sections, showing various adjusted positions of the garment keeper means, these views being drawn on a somewhat enlarged scale; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 7-7 in Fig. 3, and drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed (Cl. 19o- 41) in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawings, the reference character 10 indicates the body section and 11 the cover section of the case, the cover section 11 60 being pivotally connected to the top margin of the back 10 of the body section, the cover and body sections are provided with any suitable form of cooperative fastening means, for retaining the case in closed condition, and the case is likewise provided with a carrying handle 12,V which is usually connected with the front wall of the body section.

The interior of the cover and body sections are suitably lined with a lining 13, in connection with "Z0 which is secured by its upper and lower margins, respectively with the cover lining and the body lining, a loose apron 14 which extends over and covers the pivotally connected portions of said cover and body sections, so that garments, when packed into the case, cannot be caught between said portions when the case is closed with risk of injury thereto or undesired wrinkling or creasing.

Fixed within the interior of the free end of the cover section 11 is a suitable bracket fixture 15 y8() from which may be detachably suspended one or more garment hangers 16; the latter being of a form adapted to receive and support outer garments, such e. g. as mens suits 17 (as shown), or womens gowns. Said hangers are provided with transverse bars 16' extending between the ends of the bowed main body thereof, over which the trousers of mens suits may be folded and thus suspended.

When the cover section 11 is open, and the garments 17, as suspended from the hangers 16 which are in turn suspended from the bracket xture 15, said garments will hang down along the interior of the cover section to extend over the apron 14 and along the inner side of the back 10 of the body section into the interior of the latter. The free lower end portions of long garments, thus suspended, are spread forwardly over the bottom of the body section 10.

After the garments are arranged4 within the open case in the manner described, a keeper member of novel form and construction is secured to and within the cover section 11 to extend over said garments. This keeper member comprises a retainer board 18 of substantially rigid and yet of somewhat flexible character, such e. g. as sheet viibre or pasteboard. This retainer board may be provided with facings 19 of textile fabric, natural or artificial leather, or *similar material, and its edges may also be provided with suitably finished marginal binding, if desired. The width of this retainer board approximates substantially the interior length of the cover section 11. The means for detachably connecting the retainer board within the cover section, and in operative relation to clothing suspended therein, comprises a 4pair of lower supporting brackets 2O which are respectively secured to the interior faces of the cover end walls in mutually opposed relation. Each bracket 20 is provided with an off-set up-standing supporting plate 21 having a series of spaced downwardly indented receiving slots 22. Fixedly secured to the opposite side margins of the retainer board 18 are anchor plates 23 having angular end portions 24 projecting outwardly from a face plane of the retainer board, to which end portions are aiiixed outwardly projecting headed coupling studs 25, thereby disposed in a plane parallel to but orf-set from a face plane of the retainer board. These coupling studs 25 are selectively engageable in corresponding receiving slots 22 of the supporting plates 21 of the brackets 20. Also secured to the interior faces of the cover end walls in mutually opposed relation,- and spaced above said brackets 20, are latch-casings 26 having horizontal inwardly entering receiving slots 27. Each latch casing contains a releasable latch means manip-ulatable for release by a finger piece 28. Fixedly secured to the side margins of the retainer board are off-set outwardly projecting headed coupling lstuds 25 similar to those already described, but disposed to cooperate with said latch casings 26.

When a plurality of garments, e. g. suits of clothing, are suspended within the cover section 11, the retainer board is positioned to dispose the coupling studs 25 in inwardly olf-set relation to the inner face of the retainer board, whereupon the lower coupling studs are selectively engaged in slots 22 of the supporting plates 21 and the upper coupling studs are entered through the slots 27 into the latch-casings 26 to be engaged and held latched thereto. Such arrangement disposes the retainer board outwardly off-set to a maximum distance relative to the cover section body, so as to accommodate the same to the greater bulk of the plurality of suspended garments (see Fig. 5). When, however, a single suit of clothing is suspended within the cover section 11, the retainer board is reversed to dispose the coupling studs 25 in outwardly off-set relation to the then outer face of the retainer board, so that, when thereupon engaged with the supporting brackets and latchcasings, the retainer board will be disposed inwardly off-set to a minimum distance relative to the cover section body, so as toaccommodate the same to the lesser bulk of the single suit.

When attached to and within the cover section 11, the upper or top margin 29 of the retainer board is disposed to engage the neck-portions and lapels of the suspended suit. Adjacent to the upper corners, said retainer board is provided with downwardly and indented clearance spaces 30 which oppose the location of the shoulder portions of suspended suits and consequently permit the retainer board to clear the bulkier padded portions of coat shoulders, so that undue compression thereof with risk of wrinkling or distortion is avoided.

Intermediate the free lower end of the retainer board and the location of the lower set of coupling studs thereof, said retainer board is provided With a transverse reenforcing means.

Preferably this reenforcing means consists in half-round strips 31 of resilient material, such as rattan, which are respectively aixed to opposite faces of the board in aligned relation to extend transversely across the same from side to side thereof. This reenforcement divides the upper section of the retainer board as axed to and Within the cover-section, from a free lower section 18', sov that the latter may easily and freely flex without tendency to unduly stress or displace the upper section of the board. or unduly strain the cooperative fastening devices by which the board is operatively mounted Within the cover section. l

Adapted for insertion in the body section 10 of the case is a removable and adjustable tray 32. Fixed to the inner faces of the end walls of the body section 10, and spaced upwardly from the bottom thereof, are tray supports or ledges 33 havinga plurality of spaced perforations 34. Aixed to the ends of the tray 32 by off-setting attachment plates 35 are depending tray positioning or lock` pins 36 which are selectively engageable with the perforations 34 of said tray supports or ledges 33. V

After the garments have been suspended in the cover-section l1 with their lower portions extending into the body section 10, and the retainer board 18 attached in holding relation to said garments, the tray, suitably packed with other wearing apparel, is inserted in the body section, and moved rearwardly toward the suspended garments as closely as possible, thereupon being dropped upon the tray supports or ledges 33 and the lock pins 36 engaged through selected perforations 34 of the supports or ledges. The tray is thereupon securely held against shifting either toward or away from the suspended garments, and it will bev obvious that the tray will closely bound the suspended garment receiving space, without creating any lost space, and consequentlywill also retain the portions of garments disposed within the body section against shifting and wrinkling, while nevertheless avoiding exercise of undue pressure upon the garments.

If desired a detachable pocket 37 for shoes, soiled clothing or other articles may be placed within the body section 10 between the front wall of the latter and the tray.

After the suspended garments are placed in the case, and the retainer board and tray inserted, andthereupon any remaining space in the interior of the body section packed as may be desired, the case is ready to be closed by swinging down the cover section to closed relation to the body section. When the cover section is thus closed, the lower flexible end section 18 of the retainer board, which preferably somewhat overlaps the pivotal orhinge connection or joint provided between the cover section and body section, is caused to flex and resiliently bear against the suspended garments in the region of the fold or turn caused by the doubling over of the garments, so that said end section 18 not only provides a smooth non-Wrinkling support for the fold or turn formed in the garments, but its free end, by reason of its resiliency, tends to smoothly press garment portions contiguous to the back walls 10 of the body section, smoothly and firmly against such back Wall, thereby holding the same rmly, but without crushing effect, so that these portions ofthe garments can not shift or become displaced as the case is carried and moved about. 'Ihe closing of the cover section carries the retainer board 418 into overlying relation to the packed tray 32, so

that the board is interposed between the content of the tray and the suspended garments. By reason of this the retainer board serves to protect the suspended garment from unequal crushing pressures which might otherwise be imposed thereupon by the tray contents, and especially in this connection, does the retainer board protect the suspended garments from direct contact with protuberant or knobby formations which may be formed by the packed content of the tray. The resilient reenforcing strips 31 of the retainer board 18 are sufficiently yielding so that the same will themselves and will permit the board per se to yield and accommodate itself to the somewhat bulkier central portions of the suspended garments, while at the same time the thus reenforced retainer board will tend to distribute and equalize any pressures tending to be transmitted therethrough to the suspended garments from the packed contents of the tray 32.

It will be obvious from the above description, that the novel construction and arrangement of parts enable outer garments to be hung within the case, and not merely folded up and laid in the case, and when thus hung the garments are both smoothly spread and retained in wrinkless suspended condition, but are also segregated from the other content of the packed case, as well as protected against deforming pressures by the latter content.

The hangers, retainer board, tray and shoepocket being all detachable and removable from the case interior, the case may be quickly converted into an ordinary suitcase for bulk packing.

I am aware that changes could be made in the above described constructions, and that many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof; consequently it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, means within the cover section at its free end to suspend garments along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section, a retainer board, cooperative means connected respectively with said cover section and said retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the garments suspended from said cover section, said retainer board having a flexible lower end portion to enter said body section and press portions of the suspended garments toward and against the rear wall of said body section, and transverse reenforcing means connected with said retainer board to divide the upper main portion of the latter from the flexible lower portion thereof.

2. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, means within the cover section at its free end f to suspend garments along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section, a retainer board, cooperative means connected respectively with said cover section and said retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the garments suspended from said cover section, said retainer board having a exible lower end portion to enter said body section and press portions of the suspended garments toward and against the rear wall of said body section, transverse reenforcing means connected with said retainer board to divide the upper main portion of the latter from the flexible lower portion thereof, a removable tray insertable within said body section, and means to support and hold said tray inwardly in adjusted spaced relation to the portions of the suspended garments contiguous to the rear wall of said body section; said retainer board serving when the cover section is closed to overlie said tray and segregate its content from contact with said suspended garments.

3. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, means within the cover section at its free end to suspend garments along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section with lower portions of the garments overlying the bottom of said body section, a retainer board, cooperative attachment means connected respectively with said cover section and retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the suspended garments, said retainer board having a resiliently exible lower end portion to engage intermediate portions of the suspended garments to support the same at the region of the folding thereof when the cover section is swung down into closed relation to the body section, and resilient transversely disposed reenforcing means connected with said retainer board below the attachment means and serving to divide the upper main portion of the retainer board from said flexible lower end portion thereof.

4. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, means within the cover section at its free end to suspend garments along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section with lower portions of the garments overlying the bottom of said body section, a retainer board, cooperative attachment means connected respectively with said cover section and retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the suspended garments, said retainer board having a resiliently flexible lower end portion to engage intermediate portions of the suspended garments to support the same at the region of the folding thereof when the cover section is swung down into closed relation to the body section, and resilient transversely disposed reenforcing means connected with said retainer board below the attachment means and serving to divide the upper main portion of the retainer board from said exible lower end portion thereof, a removable tray insertable within said body section, and means to support and hold said tray immovable in adjusted spaced relation to the portions of the suspended garments contiguous to the rear wall of said body section; said retainer board serving when the cover section is closed to overlie said tray and segregate its content from contact with said suspended garments.

5. In a traveling case as defined in claim 3, wherein said retainer board is provided with indented clearance spaces adjacent to its upper corner portions to clear the shoulder portions of suspended garments.

6. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, an interior protective apron overlying the hinge juncture of said cover and body section, a fixed garment hanger supporting bracket at the interior free end of said cover section, garment hanger means detachably engageable with said supporting bracket whereby garments may be iro suspended along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section With lower -portions of the garments overlying the bottom of said body section, a retainer board, cooperative attachment means connected respectively with the sides of said cover section and side marginal portions of said retainer vkboard for` detachably securing the latter inoverlying and holding relation to the suspended garmentasaid retainer board having a free resiliently flexible lower end portion to enter said body section and press portions of the suspended garments toward and against the rear Wall of said body section, and aligned resilient reenforcing strips connected respectively with opposite faces of said retainer board and extending transversely from side to side of the latter so as to divide the attached upper main portion thereof from the free flexible lower portion thereof. v

7. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, an interior protective apron overlying the hinge juncture of said cover and body section, a Xed garment hanger supporting bracket at the interior free end of said cover section, garment hanger means detachably engageable with said supporting bracket whereby garments may be suspended along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section with lower portions of the garments overlying the bottom of said body section, a retainer board, cooperative attachment means connected respectively with the sides of said cover section and side marginal portions of said retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the suspended garments, said retainer board having a free resiliently flexible lower end portion to enter said body section and press portions of the suspended garments toward and against the rear wall of said bodysection, aligned resilient reenforcing strips connected respectively with opposite faces of said retainer board and extending transversely from side to side of the latter so as to divide the attached upper main portion thereof from the free exible lower portion thereof, a removable tray insertable within said body section, and means to support and hold said tray immovable in adjusted spaced relationv to the portions of the suspended garments contiguous to the rear wall of said body section; said retainer board serving when the cover section is closed to overlie said tray and segregate its content from contact with said suspended garments.

8. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, an interior protective apron overlying the hinge juncture of said cover and body section, a fixed garment hanger supporting bracket at the interior free end of said cover section, garment hanger means detachably engageable` with said supporting bracket whereby garments may be suspended along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section with lower portions of the garments overlying the bottom of said body section, a retainer boardo cooperative attachment means connected respectively with the sides of said cover section and side marginal portions of said retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the suspended garments, said retainer board having a free resiliently iiexible lower end portion to enter said body section and press portions of the suspended garments ytoward and against the rear wall of said body section,

aligned resilient reenforcing strips connected respectively with opposite faces of -said retainer board and extendingtransversely 'from side to side of theA latter so-as to divide the attached upper main*A portion thereof fromthe free iiexible lower portion thereof, a removable tray insertable jwithin said body section, and means to support and hold said tray immovable in -adjusted spaced relation to the portions ofthe sus pended garments contiguous to the rear wall of said body section;- said retainer board serving when the cover section is closed to overl-ie said tray and segregate its content from `contact with said suspended garments, said retainer board having indented clearance spaces adjacent to its upper corner portions to clear the shoulder portions of suspended garments.

9. A traveling case, comprising a body section having a cover section hingedly connected thereto, means within the cover section at its free end to suspend garments along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section with free end portions of said garments overlying the bottom of said body section, a removable tray member, cooperative tray attachment means connected respectively with said tray and body section, end walls for immovably holding said tray within saidbody section and adjustably positioned relative to those portions of the suspended garments contiguous to the rear wall ofsaid body section, a retainer board, cooperative board attachment means connected respectively with said cover section and retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying relation to the garment portions contiguous to the cover section, and said retainer board having afree resiliently iieXible lower end portion adapted to enter the bodysection between the suspended garments and the adjacent side of said tray and to press portions of said garments toward and against the rear wall of said body section when the case is closed, said retainer board serving when the case is closed to overlie said tray and segregate its content from co-ntact with said suspended garments. .l

10; In a 4traveling case as defined in claim 9, wherein said retainer boardis provided with re- `silient transversely disposed reenforcing means serving to divide the upperhmain portion of said board from said flexible lower endportion thereof.

11. In atraveling case as defined in claim 9, wherein said retainer boardis provided with indented clearance spaces adjacent to its upper corner portions to clear the shoulder portionsl of suspended garments.

12. In a traveling case as dened in claim 9, wherein said retainer board is provided with resilient transversely disposed reenforcing means serving to divide the upper main portion of said board from said iiexible lower end portion thereof, and said retainer board is further provided with indented clearancespaces adjacent to its upper corner portions to clear the shoulder portions of suspende-d garments.

13. A traveling case, comprising a body-section having a cover section hinged thereto, means within the cover section at its free end to suspend garments along the inner side of said cover section and the rear wall of said body section with free end portions of said garments overlying thebottom of said body section, a tray member, means to adjustably support said tray member in fixed position within said body section-and in relation to the garments disposed in the latter, a retainer board, cooperative fastening devices Connected respectively With the sides of said cover section and the sides of said retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the garments as suspended in said cover section, and said retainer serving when the cover section is closed to overlie said tray and segregate its content from contact with said suspended garments.

14. In a traveling case as defined in claim 13, wherein said retainer board is provided with indented clearance spaces adjacent to its upper corner portions to clear the shoulder portions of suspended garments.

l5. A traveling case, comprising a body section v having a cover section hinged thereto, means Within the cover section at its free end to suspend garments along the inner side of said cover section and the rear Wall of said body section with free end portions of said garments overlying the bottom of said body section, a tray member, means to adjustably support said tray member in fixed position Within said body section and in relation to the garments disposed in the latter, a retainer board, cooperative fastening devices connected respectively with said cover section and retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the garments as suspended in said cover section, means to off-set the fastening devices connected with said retainer board relative to a face plane of the latter Whereby said board is reversibly attachable to said section in selective planes relative thereto, thereby to accommodate said retainer board to a greater or lesser bulk of suspended garments.

16. In a traveling case having means to suspend garments within the cover section thereof, a retainer board, cooperative fastening devices connected respectively with said cover section and retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the suspended garments, and means to oi -set the fastening devices connected with said retainer board relative to a face plane of the latter whereby said board is reversibly attachable to said cover section in selected planes relative thereto, thereby to accommodate said retainer board to a greater or lesser bulk of suspended garments.

17. In a traveling case having means to suspend garments within the cover section thereof, a retainer board, cooperative fastening devices connected respectively with said cover section and retainer board for detachably securing the latter in overlying and holding relation to the suspended garments, and means to oir -set the fastening devices connected with said retainer board relative to a face plane of the latter whereby said board is reversibly attachable to said cover section in selected planes relative thereto, thereby to accommodate said retainer board to a greater or lesser bulkv of suspended garments, said retainer board having indented clearance spaces adjacent to its upper corner portions to clear the shoulder portions of suspended garments.

ARY KAUFMANN. 

